By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
A university don, Dr Okpe Okpe, has called on legislators to quickly pass the NYSC Trust Fund (NYSCTF) Bill into law in order to give socio-economic security to the teeming youths in the country.
Okpe, who spoke in Abuja at a public symposium on the operations of the Act said its urgent assent would serve as a panacea for insecurity and national disintegration, adding that it will assist in curbing incessant cases of ritualism in the country.
The symposium was organised by the Nigeria First in collaboration with several interest groups.
Okpe said the NYSCTF, if enacted, will address financial constraints in training, orientation camp development, provision of sundry welfare and also mitigate the problem of employment in the country through the provision of start-up capital to the young graduates to establish their businesses.
The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari, National Nssembly and relevant stakeholders to join the NYSC in making sure the Bill is passed and signed into law within a short time “due to its importance in equipping the NYSC for more service to the country”.
While applauding the National Assembly for considering the NYSCTF Bill, Okpe said, “Our fervent prayer is that the Bill will not only receive expedited passage but will also receive presidential assent.
“It is also our hope that the trust fund will provide permanent solution to youth unemployment in the country.
“Let me sieze this opportunity to commend the Director-General of the NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for initiating the idea of the trust fund that will provide a sustainable source of funds for the NYSC, skill acquisition training and provision of start-up capital to corps members, train and retrain the personnel of the NYSC, develop camps and the NYSC formations and provide facilities therein,” Okpe said.
The NYSC Trust Fund, Okpe added, when passed into law, will also improve the general welfare of not only corps members but the general youth and unemployed Nigerians by extension, which will help in promoting national unity, integration, self-reliance and accelerated development of the national economy.
Nigeria First Convener, Richard Augustine, in his welcome address said the nation needs to build an economic model where business ideas will not be killed but nurtured into empires, where men and women of skills shall realise their dreams and potentials.
“The youths have to be encouraged to strive collectively to end poverty, hunger and deprivation in the land using instruments such as the planned Youth Fund.
“NYSC Trust Fund, on its final stage of becoming an Act, is actually meant to address inclusive growth in Nigeria and this fact was well canvassed during the public hearing on the Bill held on Thursday, February 24, 2021.”
At the said public hearing, Major-General Ibrahim informed the nation that the Bill sought to address the infrastructural deficit in the orientation camps, ensure adequate provision of other operational logistics, as well as address the problem of graduate unemployment in the country. Moreso the President has promised the Nigerian youths of leaving a legacy behind and he is always ready to append his signature on the bill if brought to his table.
“Consequently, the appreciation goes to the leadership of the National Assembly for showing commitment and proving to be on the side of the Nigerian people, our appeal also goes to all friends of the scheme, including influential public figures, civil society organisations, student bodies, members of the academia and media practitioners, to continue the clamour as the Bill is before the Senate.
“Now that the bill is before the Senate at it last stage, the lawmakers should put their seal on the revolutionary legislation. There is no doubt that when the NYSC Trust Fund becomes operational, the number of corps entrepreneurs will increase drastically, and they will in turn help to provide jobs for millions of other youths of the country.”